A Tribute to the “Queen”

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I consider myself among the most fortunate to have been blessed by Patricia Anne Florey. She carried many titles including, wife, mom, sister, aunt, “Mimi” and friend but the greatest title she carried for me was “The Queen.”

She always carried herself with poise and elegance, the perfect epitome of a lady. Her classy wardrobe with adorning jewelry coupled with her beautiful skin and hair was enough to catch even the complete stranger’s eye as she walked into any room, but it was her pure heart and fear of The Lord that set her apart as the true “Queen” that she was to so many.

As I began to ask The Lord for the words to share with each of you today, He quickly led me to Proverbs 31 – A Wife of Noble Character. As you read through the chapter, verse after verse begins to jump off the page as a description of the woman that we all knew and adored.

Here are the ones that stood out the most to me:

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12

“She provides food for her family.” Proverbs 31:15

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Proverbs 31:17

“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:25-29

I don’t recall my life without Aunt Patti in it. She and my mom became dear friends when I was two and a half years old. When my dad battled his own Colon Cancer and my mom was by his side, Aunt Patti stepped in to ensure my sister and I had a safe place to lay our head, food to eat, a ride to school, and even drove us to countless dance lessons and cheer practices. We adored her. We looked up to her, and we even aspired to be like her one day when we grew up.

Our relationship continued to blossom as she began to pour into my own children with the same affection and love that she had poured out over Jess and me. Now my own children adore her, look up to her and aspire to be just like her one day.

Aunt Patti had that way about her. She was a friend to all. She met you where you were and did so, so very graciously. She never judged, always listened with empathetic ears, and spoke truth with gentleness and grace so you could hear it and receive it as a source to help you not to harm you. She has helped me in countless ways to be a stronger and better woman and mom from her rich counsel. I will never stop praising the Good Lord for allowing her to be the influence that she was to me and my family.

I will also never stop praising Him for giving me these past 6 weeks to walk alongside of she and Uncle Edward as they both fought valiantly against cancer. I witnessed so many beautiful and HOLY moments. We read Psalm 91 together. We worshipped together. We held hands, laughed, cried and prayed together. The last 2 verses of Proverbs 31 came alive for me in these past 6 weeks.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:30-31

There is no doubt that Patricia Anne Florey received her praise as she entered the city gate of her eternal home on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024. Many were there greeting and applauding her for being the light of Christ to all who knew her and most importantly her Savior, Jesus Christ. He was ready to see her face to face, so the perfect healing came.

Uncle Edward, I love you! Jeff and Chuck, you are my brothers in Christ and my Wordle Buddies for life! Kristen and Sheri, I am so grateful to have gotten to know each of you. Audra and Lakes, you had the very best Mimi. I hope she continues to inspire you and you hope to grow up to be just like her one day just like I did. Terry, I don’t have words for what you have meant to me and the family. You are stuck with me for life now. I can’t wait to have our weekends together. I love you!

To Dr. Syed, Dr.Vo, her other doctors, nurses, Purple Heart Home Health and Chambers Hospice Professionals you gave the very best care, and we are so grateful for you. To the community, THANK YOU! I have watched the body of Christ be what He designed it to be through so many of you. Thank you for the countless meals that have fed us, the friends that have showed up within 5 minutes of us calling, the flowers, cards, visits, all of it meant so much to the “Queen.”

Thank you, Lord, for the truth of your word and for giving each of us a living example of what this truth looks like in giving us Patricia Anne Florey. We are forever grateful. Amen!

The Embrace

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April my sister

We embraced. I held her close and pulled her near, so she could hear me whisper “God loves you.” She whispered back, “He loves you too.” In that moment nothing separated us from the love of God. No color of skin. No social or economic status. Nothing. Just the love of Jesus meeting two women on a cold February evening that warmed our hearts to overflow.

The issues surrounding racial injustice in our world today has my heart broken into a million pieces for all of us. I have been quiet. I have been prayerful. When I zoom in on this beautiful picture that I have saved on my phone tears fill my eyes. I can remember everything about this moment in time. I can remember wiping her tears without a care or worry of COVID19 contaminating me. We were having an intimate moment together. She was sharing her struggles, and in return I shared mine. We connected. We were sisters in Christ despite of our differences, our hang ups and bruises. We were united in the most beautiful and amazing way…JESUS!

Did you know that before you and I even took our first breath, actually before we were even conceived, Jesus prayed for our unity as His believers?

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, THAT ALL OF THEM MAY BE ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE: I in them and you in me. MAY THEY BE BROUGHT TO COMPLETE UNITY to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23

My NIV Life Application Study Bible has amazing footnotes that help break down the verse for further understanding. Look at what it says:

Jesus’s great desire for his disciples was that they would become one. He wanted them unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God’s love. Are you helping to unify the body of Christ, the church? You can pray for other Christians, avoid gossip, build others up, work together in humility, give your time and money, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked arguing over divisive matters.”

What a powerful question. Are you helping to unify the body of Christ, the church? I want that answer to always be a resounding YES, so I leaned in and asked the Lord how I could do more. His answer came to me as I stared through the photo of the embrace.

The whisper I felt come over me was, “Go and meet people right where they are and love them.” So that is exactly what I am going to do. I have intentionally reached out to 3 different people that I don’t normally share life with. I am going to get to know them. I am going to invite them into my home, meet them for coffee or lunch, and I am going to listen intently to their stories and try to meet them right where they are and love them like Jesus.

The Apostle Paul, while imprisoned in Macedonia, witnessed to 3 people who became Christians. Not 3,000. 3! These three people are how the Philippian church was started. Paul reached a woman that was a slave that was possessed by a demon, a woman that was wealthy named Lydia who was having a prayer gathering outside of her house, and a jailer (Acts 16:6-34). He met each one of them right where they were, and the gospel went forth and it changed the world.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let’s do it. Let’s change the world 1 person at a time. We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We do not have time to waste in arguing with each other over divisive matters. There are souls at stake. Instead of looking at what makes us different, let’s look at what makes us the same. We are all uniquely made and created in His image (Psalm 139). He came to save us ALL. The real question we should be asking is are they lost or saved. And if they are lost, what are we doing to tell them about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the WORLD?

When we stop to really lean into why Jesus prayed what he prayed we find the reason…SO THE WORLD KNOWS THAT GOD SENT JESUS and He loves us. When we are unified as His, we are witnesses to the world. People will see God for who He is. LOVE.

Who do you need to embrace? Who can you get to know better and have a deeper understanding of who they are? Will you take the challenge with me? Reach out to someone that you want to get to know better. Lean into them and their struggles. Share your struggles with them. Be vulnerable. Embrace. Love.

May your obedience to step out in faith and love like Jesus have a ripple effect on God’s Kingdom that brings many into the fold. God’s abundant blessings upon you as you GO!

 

Walk in Confidence

When I was a little girl growing up there were words my mom would strand together to give me encouragement and instruction. I heard them so much over my span of life that it became second nature to me. As I grew into a teenage girl, I can remember rolling my eyes a time or two as she would say them, “Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, chin up, walk in confidence.” Today, those are the very words I am saying to my own daughters who are living in a world where tearing down is more common than building up.

Super HeroesThis week at our High School we are celebrating “Self Confidence Week” thanks to our amazing FCCLA. All week long we have been dressing up to different themes each day to ROCK our confidence. I wish all it took was a week of dressing up and morning announcements to fix our insecurities. Unfortunately, it can take a lifetime of overcoming the whispers inside of our head, or from others, that tell us we are not enough.

I believe one of the most powerful and important lessons we can teach our children is to know who they are as a child of God. If we can plant that seed in them, and it takes root, it is sure to blossom and grow. I am so grateful my mom never stopped chanting and cheering me on.

It’s not hard to do. Here are some easy things we can say every single day to help plant the seed of self-confidence: YOU are loved. YOU are valued. YOU are chosen. YOU are adored. YOU are worthy. YOU are FREE to be who God made YOU to be. You are HIS! SOAR!

A few weeks back we took our oldest daughter to interview for a full scholarship at the college she will attend. She was nervous as there were over 60 students invited to participate for the 2 full paid scholarships. The President and Senior Vice President spoke to the parents as the students went off in groups to be interviewed.  This is how the Senior Vice President started her time with us.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt

She went on to tell us how this statement was shared by one of her professors when she was in college and how the Professor spoke life into hers by telling her that she had a voice and needed to not be afraid to use it. She went on to become a Debate Teacher, Professor and now is the Senior Vice President of Southwestern College.

Why do I tell you this story? I want you to see the power of influencing others by speaking life into them. I want you to also see the power that we behold in how we think and believe.  It rests in us. No one can make you feel in inferior without your consent means that you have the power to listen or not. You have the power to believe it or not. When you know who you are and to whom you belong, there is nothing or no one that can take away your confidence. You are simply free to WALK in CONFIDENCE.

Self Confidence ImageSo what’s stopping you today from walking in confidence? Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, chin up and walk in confidence!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

If you know someone who is struggling with their own self-worth, share this with them. Play this song for them. Listen with them and then build them up.  You will never know the impact it may make on them. You could very well help them to SOAR and become all that God designed them to be. Be BRAVE! Be BOLD! Be YOU!

 

I Will Carry You

Taylor Brooke CoeThis is the first time I have ever shared a picture of our Taylor Brooke publicly. We had a shadow box made with her keepsakes after we laid her to rest. We keep it safely tucked in the corner of our closet, so we will always remember. This time of year is when I think about her the most. Today would have been her 19th birthday!

A few weeks ago, I awakened to a dream that left me yearning to know why I dreamed it. It was one of those dreams that had to have purpose. I was at a conference with thousands of people that I couldn’t see. Their faces were darkened by the auditorium lights. I was alone and didn’t know anyone around me. When I looked to the stage I could not even see the entertainers as the light cast a shadow on their faces. The only thing that I could clearly see was the sign on the stage that read, “SELAH.” Then I woke up!

What was that? Why, Lord, was I there and who or what in the world is Selah? Those were my questions when I was alone with Him in my morning time. So I went on a pursuit to find out what it meant.

Wikipedia says Selah is a word used 74 times in the Hebrew bible – 71 times in the Psalms and three times in the Book of Habakkuk. The meaning of the word is not known, though various interpretations are given below. (It should not be confused with the Hebrew word sela which means “rock”, or in an adjective form, “like a rock”, i.e.: firm, hard, heavy.) It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like “stop and listen.”

Okay, so now The Lord had my attention. He wanted me to stop and listen, but listen to what? Directly below the Wikipedia definition of “Selah” on my search engine were images of the Christian Trio group and a list of their songs they sing. I am terrible at knowing Artist’s names, but I always remember their songs. I scrolled through song after song that I have worshipped to so many times. I was grateful in that moment to know this group’s name, Selah. How cool! The Lord wanted me to stop and listen to their songs? Which one should I stop and listen to? I kept scrolling through the list of songs and found one that I had never heard before. Wow! I stopped and listened and the words that I heard brought me to my knees. I could not believe what I heard our Lord speak over me.

 

The images of an empty cradle remained frozen as the words scrolled through and the tears rolled down my face. “I will carry you while your heart beats here, long beyond the empty cradle through the coming years. I will carry you all my life. I will praise the one who’s chosen me to carry you!”

And He says, “I’ve shown her photographs of time beginning, walked her through the parted sea. Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes, who could love her like this?” I will carry you while your heart beats here, long beyond the empty cradle through the coming years. I will carry you all your life. I will praise the one who’s chosen me to carry you!”

Baby quoteOur Father is a comforter. He knows our hearts and when we are hurting. I am in awe to know that He can speak to us in a multitude of ways including a dream, a song, a verse, a friend, a sunrise, a sunset, through His creation. When I think back to my dream, I was surrounded by many people that I didn’t know and we were all there seeing “Selah” together. He wanted us all to stop and listen, so that’s why I open up my vulnerable heart to you on what would have been my daughter’s 19th birthday.

In her precious memory, I pray that every mom and dad that have experienced this great loss experience His amazing comfort today. I hope you find hope in knowing that our children are being shown around the Heavens with angel lullabies…no more teary eyes and one day we will see them again. I hope you find great comfort in knowing that your precious child’s life mattered and still does. The ripple effect of a life touches lives beyond the grave. Ryan and I were the only ones to hold this precious baby girl, but because her heartbeat existed, and she was born with one single breath, God gave me a dream to encourage each of you. I hope you hear His words singing to you. Stop and listen! He will carry you!

“The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” Zechariah 8:5

Miracles Happen

Miracle QuoteIt’s been a month since I have written. I’ve been quiet. I’ve been listening. I’ve been praying and seeking. The past five years have been hard and down right exhausting. There have been moments where we wanted to quit, give up, and throw in the towel. By God’s grace, we have held on. He has shown up in amazing ways that have taken my breath away…those just in time…had to be The Lord moments. I know you have experienced them too. They are the lifelines that keep us holding on and pressing forward. I am so grateful that He sees and knows and understands what we are going through. Aren’t you?

A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with him, like I always do, but this time I asked him to do the impossible. I wanted to be rescued for good. I wanted the chains that were holding us captive to be removed. I cried out to him that I was tired of the fight. I needed and wanted to be set free once and for all. Right after I closed my prayer in a flood of tears I went to His word. These are the words I read:

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

I lost it. Was He really saying those words to me? Could they be true? Was He really going to rescue me, protect me and answer me? Was he really going to deliver me and honor me and satisfy me? I have continued to come back to these words every day for the past four weeks. I meditate on them. They bring me hope, but if I only read them as words of hope that is all they will ever be. I have to BELIEVE them as words that are TRUE. That’s when the conviction washed over me that these words are for me. They are also for YOU! We just have to BELIEVE!

Arise verseSo I started believing them. The minute I said yes to believing is when I started seeing His deliverance. He is making the way for my family. He is setting us all the way free. He is doing exactly what He said he would do, and all I can do is stand in AWE! He continues to speak to me through His word. Look at these words in Psalm 12: 5-8. As you know, ARISE is my word of the year. I felt The Lord asking me to ARISE and lift my head to Him at the start of this year. I have been working to arise, but I never thought that he would use that word to show me that HE is ARISING for ME! Seriously! Look at these words and let them soak in. This is The Lord we serve!!!

“But the Lord says, NOW I will ARISE! I will defend the poor, those who were plundered, the oppressed, and the needy who groan for help. I will ARISE to rescue and protect them! For every word God speaks is sure and every promise pure. His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful. It’s as pure as silver refined seven times in a crucible of clay. O Lord, you will keep us forever safe and protect us from such people forever.” Psalm 12:5-8

I don’t know what you are going through in your life right now. I don’t know how hard your journey has been. Maybe you are at the end of your rope today. Maybe you are looking for a lifeline to help you keep pressing forward. If that’s you today, I pray these words of truth wash over you and convict you to BELIEVE! Believe in our faithful God who is mighty to ARISE, RESCUE and SAVE! He is who He says He is. When we believe – we are making room for Him and His miracles to happen! Get ready to stand in AWE!

Lavishly Loved

Girls on the beachHave you ever thought about how you love others and the impact it makes on their lives? I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I just finished Bob Goff’s book, Everybody, Always. It’s challenged me to love more and deeper than I ever have before. I had a wonderful opportunity to be surrounded by my daughters and their friends for a week on the beach. I was determined to love them well. As it turns out loving others that look and act like we do is not where the challenge lies. It’s when we are faced with the ones that don’t that it becomes hard.

We’ve never had a problem with theft at the beach, but this year was different. It was our 2nd day on the beach at the end of a gorgeous day. My oldest and I were the only ones down on the beach. We heard a woman begin to question the ladies behind us about a pair of shoes. She went on to ask them where they had gotten them because she had purchased some just like them for her daughter, and they had left them at the end of the boardwalk and now they were gone. I was stunned to hear the confrontation as was Catherine. We never heard a response from the ladies being accused. They were silent. In their silence the mom continued, “I can tell by your faces and your silence that those are my daughter’s shoes, and I would like them back now please.” They gave her the shoes and she turned around and left.

I could not believe it. They really had taken someone else’s shoes, and they were sitting right behind us. Wow! I decided that was enough of the beach for me, so Catherine and I began to gather our things. I got a glance of the girls. They really weren’t that much older than our own girls. They looked to have been college age.

I figured that would be the last time I would see them. I definitely did not expect them to steal from us. That was a one time deal, right? Wrong!

It was time for a sunscreen reload before we all hit the ocean. I noticed as I reached into our beach bag that we were missing a pair of our goggles. We had 3 pair, but we were down to 2. I asked the girls where the green and black goggles were. No one knew they were even missing. I wasn’t really surprised because let’s face it, teenagers don’t always put things back to where they belong. I figured they must be up in the condo somewhere. We carried on with our day.

Later that afternoon, my middle daughter and I were the last on the beach. We had taken our beach chairs down to the ocean to put our feet in and allow the ocean waves to crash on our feet. We were just people watching and having mother/daughter talk. About that time, Lexi asked me, “Mom, are those the girls that stole the shoes?” I quickly glanced as the two girls passed us by. I affirmed that they were, and Lexi replied, “And are those my green and black goggles they are carrying?” What! Really? I couldn’t believe it.

Lexi looked at me and said, “I’m going to get my goggles back. I bought those with my own money, and I want them back.” That’s exactly what she did. She followed them up and ended up in the elevator with them. She confronted them just like the mom had two days before. They handed over the goggles to her, and she got them back. Yeah, the $12 goggles were salvaged. That’s when The Lord pricked my heart.

It’s as if I could hear Jesus himself whisper, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

After hearing that whisper it made me go to His word to read about why and when he said them. Look what I found…”Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left.” Luke 23:32-33

Lavishly lovedThere were 2 thieves that hung on either side of Christ when he was crucified. They were guilty, He was innocent. He prayed that prayer not just for the criminals but for the ones that were crucifying Him, for you and me. Sometimes we can get so focused on pursuing justice and what is right that we forget that there are lives that need saving, forgiving and restoring. I don’t know what caused those girls to need and desire to steal, but I know that they are lavishly loved by a Father that can forgive and save them.

So here’s how I need your help…will you say a prayer for these two girls wherever they are today? I believe in the power of prayer and that our God hears us and is mighty to save. Will you utter the same words that Jesus prayed? I can’t think of a better way to love our enemies than to pray for their salvation. That’s what Christ did! I’m a work in progress on this “Love” business, but I firmly believe that by praying for these girls we are loving like Christ. He’s in the judgment business. We are only in the love business.  Thanks for praying alongside of me. This is the kind of love that will leave an impact for eternity. I am expecting to meet these two daughters of the King one day.

“God himself, gave himself to save us from himself.” – John Scott

Rebuilding

CastlesI love to people watch especially at the beach. The most amazing things happen when I am drawn into their world by observation. My imagination starts to kick in, and The Holy Spirit starts to speak. I never fail to receive a tremendous amount of love and overflowing joy when these moments take place. They are just too good not to share.

Our morning had started like they always do. Ryan and I enjoy our first cup of coffee on the balcony of our condo around 5:30a. There are always a few people walking along the shore but for the most part it is quiet and still. As we were sipping our first cup and enjoying the crashing of the waves we both observed a man walk up to a rather large set of sandcastles that had been built the day before. He began to step on them and knock them down with great pleasure with his bare feet. Ryan and I looked at each other with disgust, and before we could utter a word another man from his balcony shouts out to him in a loud voice, HEY, to try to get the man’s attention. The distance was too much with the crashing waves for the man to hear. He continued to destroy the castles. My heart was heavy. I immediately began to have a conversation with The Lord. Why? Why do people have to be so destructive? Someone is going to wake up today without their sandcastles and be crushed.

My morning continued without an answer. We got ready for our day on the beach. The ice chest was packed. Sunscreen, shades, hats, books to read were ready in the beach bag. We got set up in our chairs with umbrellas and the day began. I had just gotten settled and was reading my first chapter of the day when Ryan pointed out to me that the man that yelled out from the balcony was in front of us talking to the family who had started building sandcastles. He asked them if they were the ones that had built the sandcastles the day before. They replied with a yes as he continued to tell them that he had witnessed a man destroy them that morning on the beach. He said he had yelled at him, but he didn’t stop. I couldn’t believe it. What are the odds that we would be sitting right behind the family that had built the castles and to actually see the man that had yelled out from his balcony? The Lord had my attention.

Castles 2The most precious little girl came up with her bucket full of sand. The dad was already busy at work rebuilding the sandcastles as the little girl continued to fill her bucket and bring it to him. All of a sudden I could hear God’s whisper, “Don’t be afraid of those who cause destruction. I am your Father that can rebuild anything they destroy and build it better than before.” Friends, tears swelled. Ryan and I have experienced this kind of destruction in our own personal lives. We had built something that was special for Him. We were serving Him through it when destruction had been done and caused us to let go of it.

We were both given front row seats at the beach to witness this precious family rebuild their sandcastles. They weren’t going to let the destruction keep them from rebuilding. It was such a confirmation from our Heavenly Father that He sees us. He knows our hearts, and He is faithful to help us rebuild our lives even better than it was before. All we have to do is keep filling up our bucket, being faithful day in and day out to do the work he is calling us to do, and take it to Him. He will do the rest.

Susie Larson quoteI continued to watch them throughout the rest of the day. The man had taken great delight and detail in making this set of sandcastles even better than the day before. I loved it. The little girl was so happy and carefree. She was without a worry in the world. When we trust our Father amazing things can happen. So what’s stopping you from getting out there and filling up your bucket today? Take your fruits of labor to Him and watch and see what He will do. He is able to do MORE than we ask or imagine. Trust Him!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21

 

 

I Raise a Hallelujah

Ashley basketball campThey say a lot can happen in a year. I say they are right. One year ago we dropped this beauty off at basketball camp just like many parents do this time of year. On the very first day… on the very first jump shot she came down on her feet and felt a piercing pain. She knew something was wrong but was afraid to speak up and tell someone. She played all week on a double fracture to her back. She had to spend 12 weeks (3 months) in a back brace for 24 hours a day. She experienced  being a part of the team from the sidelines cheering on her teammates instead of being in the game. She had to learn how to see things from a new perspective. She had to learn how to sing in the middle of her storm.

When the storms of life come for you how do you handle the adversity? Do you keep your eyes focused on the raging sea and the whistling winds that continue to roar around you, or do you lift your eyes above the storm and lean in to the Maker of heaven and earth?

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” Psalm 107:28-30

Storm imageDo you know what happened to these merchants that were on the mighty waters right before they cried out to Him? Their courage melted away. They were at their wits’ end. (Psalm 107:26-27) Isn’t it funny how we have to come to the end of ourselves before we will look up and cry out for help. Some of you are in the middle of some pretty big storms. You’re still fighting against the raging sea hoping it will succumb to your ways. It’s important for us to remember that even the wind and the waves obey Him. He is the only one that can calm our storms.

One of the ways we helped our girl through her storm was we found ways to praise Him. We wrote down things that we were thankful for, and we kept singing. I will never forget coming home from her MRI after learning about her fracture. I crawled in bed with her and helped wipe away her tears that came down her cheek while we listened to a song that one of my friends had sent to help us keep our eyes on Jesus.

It was hard. It wasn’t easy to sing, but as the words sank into our heart we began to be filled with hope again. We helped her to take one day at a time as it came and soon 1 week became 2 and then 4 and before she knew it she had sang her way through her storm. The Lord calmed it to a whisper. She has been healed!

We dropped her off yesterday at camp again, you can visibly see her beaming smile. She was not scared to go. She is confident in the one who goes before her.

I hope this encourages you to SING! I hope you sing a little louder and find ways to give him PRAISE in the middle of your storms. I heard this song for the first time last weekend at the Bethel Heaven Come Conference. I cannot get over the words. They are life giving, chain breaking, hope restoring words! Listen to them. Raise a Hallelujah! He is worthy of our PRAISE!

I’m going to sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and Louder you’re going to hear my praises ROAR
Up from the ashes hope will ARISE
Death is defeated
The King IS ALIVE

I RAISE A HALLELUJAH!

I Am A Child of God

Do you know who you are? It seems like a simple and silly question, right? This question is one I have been asking over myself for over a year. At the start of 2017 I experienced a heartache that began to cripple me and over time I allowed it to down right paralyze me. I stopped being me. I retreated. I isolated. I questioned. I feared. I stopped sharing my faith because someone used their words to hurt me, and I allowed it.

“She’s a fake and a fraud.”

Those were the words that stopped me in my tracks and put me on my “mat” where I could not get back up. I’m afraid there are many of us in this condition. In John 5 you read about Jesus healing a lame man by the pool. Check this out:

Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, and paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time he asked him, “Do you want to be healed” John 5:3-6

I am going to pause the story. Do you see how the broken congregate together? Do you see that the man had been paralyzed for 38 years? He had remained on the same mat by the same pool surrounded by the same people – unchanging, accepting his condition, wanting to be pitied when Jesus came up and asked him if he wanted to be healed. Wouldn’t you think he would jump at the opportunity to say yes? Let’s pick up the story…

“Sir, the invalid replied, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes in ahead of me.” John 5:7

Pause again! REALLY! That was his answer? He was waiting for someone else to do the work to get him to the water…after 38 years? Here are some amazing nuggets of  truth that I just learned from Christine Cain at the “Heaven Come 2018” Bethel Conference from this past weekend:

  • Sometimes we make our peace with our brokenness.
  • We believe the lie that it’s noble to be the victim.
  • The devil wants us to stay on our mat.
  • What about the generations that are counting on you to get up off that mat?

Then Jesus said to him,  Get up! Pick up your mat and walkAt once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:8-9

Friends, my Lord has been stirring me to get up off my mat all year. ARISE is my word I felt him speaking over me for 2018. This weekend just affirmed it again. GET UP! ARISE! There are generations waiting on us to get up off our mats. Whatever has caused you to get down and into the pit, please allow me to encourage you to not wait for someone else to come and pull you out. You CAN DO THIS! Jesus will meet you in the broken! Healing will give you access to places you never would have gone before.

Write this down and remember it:

God’s words to Jesus after being baptized in the Jordan – “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22

Satan’s words to Jesus following the baptism when being tempted – “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:3

Brothers and Sisters, if we have accepted The Lord as our Savior these words are for us. We are HIS sons and daughters who He is well pleased.  Don’t allow Satan the opportunity to question your identity. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!

This song brought me liberation and freedom after hearing this message of truth. Close your eyes and listen to the words. Claim them over your life. Those words that were spoken over me are gone. They will never be spoken from my mouth or thoughts again. I AM A CHILD OF GOD!

I will never forget these beauties and this moment in time. Thank you Jesus!

Heaven Come 2018 – Bethel Conference – May 31 – June 2nd 2018

Heaven Come Bethel Conference 2018

BELIEVE

Faith QuoteWe were on an old country road with nothing but green pastures on either side of us heading to College Station, TX to watch our daughter play for a State title.  Ryan leaned in and said, “I really don’t know how I’m going to handle all of this pressure.” I was so glad  he said it because I didn’t know how I was going to handle it either. We had watched countless tennis matches in our day, but none of them seemed to measure up to this.

Earlier that very morning I had studied a passage of scripture I had not ever focused on before, and I could feel God’s intimate whispers encouraging me to BELIEVE. I felt the nudge to share it with Ryan on our drive.

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things? they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was AMAZED at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:1-6

I love how my study bible breaks down these verses.

“Jesus was teaching effectively and wisely, but the people of his hometown saw him as only a carpenter. “He’s no better than we are – he’s just a common laborer,” they said. They were offended that others could be impressed by Jesus and follow him.”

“Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people’s pride and unbelief. The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.”

After I read these words to my Ryan, I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said, “I don’t want our Jesus to not perform a miracle because of our unbelief.”

Listen guys, our Lord is not equal to who we are. He is so much bigger! We cannot confine him to our space and likeness. I knew that in order for our baby girl to walk away with a State Medal it was going to take a miracle because she would have to rely on HIS STRENGTH to be hers. I had to believe that He would do that for her. He is able to do ALL things, and I witnessed it with my own eyes this very week.

In the semi-finals match Catherine had come to the end of herself. She even verbalized to us on the turn over that she couldn’t do it. They were losing. They were tired. The heat index on the courts was 115 degrees. They had been playing in the heat all day. I could see that she needed Jesus’s help. I silently prayed for HIM to be her strength. “Give her wisdom Lord, help her to see the play. Help her to BELIEVE!” Right after that prayer our girl hit an alley shot winner that began to turn the match around. Every point gained momentum. Her energy began to come alive and she and her partner were amazing to watch. They truly were shining, and He had given them the strength to do it.

Tears after SemisThey won that match in a 3rd set tie break. The victory was sweet. You can see the tears in her eyes after the win in this picture. They had made it to the finals after an amazing come back from behind WIN! All of us were starting to BELIEVE! Our FAITH was moving the heart of our God to perform a miracle that only He could do. Have you ever had faith to move God’s heart? When we BELIEVE in HIM and HIS abilities to do the impossible, we stir HIS heart to move on our behalf.

What’s stopping you from BELIEVING today? I’m not sure what miracle you are in need of…some of you are in need of something so much bigger than a state medal. Some of you are needing healing from a terminal disease. Some of you are needing healing from a broken relationship. Some of you are in bondage of addiction that has held you in chains for too long and you think that you will never be set free. Let me encourage you today to pray to him for help with your unbelief. Our JESUS is not just a carpenter. He is our SAVIOR and LORD who reigns on high.  Nothing is too difficult for him. He came to set the captives FREE! BELIEVE!

This song came on the radio right after Ryan and I had our discussion. It was perfect! He’s making diamonds out of us sweet friends. When the pressure is high, he’s making diamonds! Don’t be afraid to SHINE!!!

 

2018 AAAA Girls Doubles State Champions – Georgia Rice and Catherine Coe #gloryup

State Winners